Method and apparatus for obtaining work in internal-combustion engines



J. G. PROSSER. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING WORK IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I917.

Patented May 30, 1922.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I9I7. 1,417,859.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I9I7.

Patented 'May 30,

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JOSEPH. G. PROSSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB; TO PROSSER GO'MPAN Y, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING WORK IN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Way 30, 1922.

Application filed March 8, 1917. Seria1 Ho.- 153,430.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrH G. Pnossnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcage, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Methods and Apparatus for Obtaining WVork in Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the followlng description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, l ke characters on the drawing representlng like parts.

This invention relates to a means or apparatus and a process forobtaining work in an internal combustion engine.

The object of the invention is to maintain substantially constant the compression under which ignition takes. place and to vary the quality of the mixture of hydrocarbon and air supplied to the cylinder, or in other words effect a qualitative control of the mixture supplied so that a rapid and complete combustion or explosion is obtained at the maximum compression. Thus maximum volumetric efficiency is secured, as in the Diesel type of engine, and at the same time the work area of the indicator card is relatively increased because, owing to the rapidity or explosive character of the combustion, expansion begins at a pressure far above that due to compression by the piston and proceeds adiabatically rather than iso-thermally. Thus there is secured the use of the minimum amount of hydrocarbon necessary to perform the required work.

It is a further'object of the invention to provide for this qialitative control of the mixture supplied to the cylinder during such periods of the operation of the engine as may be predetermined or as may be desired by the operator and to provide for the usual quantitative control of the mixture supplied to the cylinder during the remaining periods of the operation of the engine. In carrying out this object quantitative control may be provided for starting the engine and until it has attained a required speed when the qualitative control may come into action and thereafter effect theoperation of the engine. So also, in carrying out this feature of the invention means may be provided for effecting either method of control at will and during such periods as may be desired.

The invention in its more specific form also has as its object to make use of any of i the ordinary forms of carbureters employed with internal combustion engines and provides means by which the quantitative control effected by such a carbureter may be thrown out of action and a qualitative control (if determination of the speed to be maintained by manually operated adjusting means.

In the operation of the internal combus tion engine unless the engine is operating against a steady resistance and under a special set of conditions it is impossible except at infrequentintervals to obtain under full compression a perfect mixture of hydrocarbon and air, that is, that quality of mixture which is theoretically necessary for perfect combustion. High efficiency of combustion is attained by maintaining the maxi- .mum compression in'the cylinder-under varying resistance even if the quality of the to be substantially true if the mixture'varies on the slde of excess of air.

In this invention therefore when the en- .gine is operating under qualitative control the'passage of air to the cylinder is unrestricted up to the capacity of the cylinder so that under all conditions the cylinder may take a full charge and thus secure the maintenance of as high a degree of compression as available in the cylinder. Hence throttling means for controlling the supply of mixture to the cylinder are undesirable and may be dispensed with when qualitative control alone is provided.

The hydrocarbon in the charge is supplied to the air in the mixing chamber by suitable means and by varying the amount so sup: plied the speed of the engine is controlled, this being done either manually or automatically through a speed governor. Thus as already pointed out the mixture entering the cylinder contains only suflicient hydrocarbon .mixture varies somewhat and this is found drocarbon that liquid hydrocarbon will be found on the surfaces for-any length of time, because such liquidhydrocarbon, if it should temporarily form on any of the surfaces, would be picked up by the air during acceleration of the engine and would act, in. the same manner as hydrocarbon drawn in from the nozzle, to enrich the mixture and would thus increase the speed of the engine until it became absorbed, after which the speed of the engine would again'become dependent upon the amount of hydrocarbon tha'tcould be drawn directly from the nozzle.

When starting the engine or operating it at low speeds with qualitative control there will be considerable resistance due to com pression and unless special means are provided a suitable mixture might not be formed and enter the cylinder to overcome this'compression, and even if a mixture of the. quality necessary to effect an explosion entered the cylinder, still irregular running might result. The invention therefore provides some suitable means, preferably by quantitatively controlling the mixture, for the starting of the engine and operating it at 'low speeds.

Another feature of the invention resides in supplying heat, as by. a suitable jacket, to the air or the mixture during its passage toward the cylinder. This acts to decrease the density of the mixture more rapidly in proportion to the decrease in speed but without materially effecting the density of the mix-- ture at high speeds. Thus a substantial in crease of the range of power is effected with out reducing the efliciency of the mixture.

Another feature of the invention resides in insuring that the mixture supplied to the cylinder shall never contain an excess of hydrocarbonbeyond that re u'ired to insure maximum eificiency of wor performance. This is effected by correlating the maximum resistance, the size of cylinder, length of stroke of the piston, the clearance and similar structural features affecting the volume of the charge. with the speed of the piston, and the supply of hydrocarbon and air so that, when the engine is operating at the max mum required speed with the cylinder admitting to capacity and opposing the maximum resistance, the passage of air to an excess of hydrocarbon beyond that required for the perfect mixture.

The invention in its broader aspects is based upon broadly novel and fundamental principles and a variety of mechanical constructions may be devised and employed as an embodiment of the invention. The con structions illustrated in the drawings are therefore to be taken simply as illustrative and not as restrictive of the main features of the invention although these constructions as indicated by the. more specific claims embody in themselves certain novel and specific features of invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1: is a side elevation partially broken away of a portion of the forward end of an automobile showing the exterior of an internal combustion -engine and connected parts embodying one form of the invention wherein qualitative control of the mixture is effected and the engine is automatically maintained at any desired speed;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation and partially in vertical cross section of a construction embodying the invention arranged for qualitative control and including a construction for effecting a quantitative control of the mixture during the starting of the engine or at low speeds;

Fig. 3 is a View partially in side elevation and partially in vertical cross section of an other form of construction embodying the form of the invention illustrated in Figure l, the main parts being shown on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation showing a simple form of mechanism for manually effecting the operation of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation partially in vertical cross section of a portion of the forward end of an automobile showing a portion of the engine and conne'ctedparts embodying one form ofithe invention and particularly designed for effecting either qualitative control or quantitative controlduring such periods of the operation of the engine as may be desired by the operator and operated by mechanism governed either by the hand or the foot of the operator and designed to permit a shift from either method of control to the other at substantially any speed.

hile the invention is for convenience lllustrated in'connection with an-internal combustion engine such as is employed in automobiles it is. to be understood that it is not limited to any particular form of innausea ternal combustion engine nor to any particular use to which the engine may be put. It is unnecessary to enter into any detailed description of the construction and ope-ration of the engine itself because the adoption of the present invention necessitates no change in well known forms of construction.

The general construction of the various embodiments of the invention illustrated will first be set forth and then the manner in which these constructions are and may be operated to secure the objects of the invention will be explained.

The constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive provide for the qualitative control of the mixture by means separate from the usual float controlled valve; provide for the-maintenance of a required speed either manually or automatically; and secure the operation of the engine in starting or at low speeds by quantitative control through the employment of a shutter controlling the admission of air to the mixing chamber.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 1 the forward end of an automobile is shown with'the dashboard 1 and the usual steering wheel post 2. Above the crank case 3 is illustrated a four cylinder internal combustion engine, each cylinder provided with the usual piston 5, and a manifold 6 serving to admit the mixture to the cylinders. The mixture of hydrocarbonand air passes to the manifold from the mixing chamber which as illustrated is formed in aseparate casing.

Either the construction illustrated more in detail in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 3 may be employed in connection with the general fea tures illustrated in Figure 1 according as the control of the speed is manual or automatic. Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 where the control is manual the casing 7 extends vertically and is connected at its upper end to the manifold. A central vertical passage8 in this casing forms the mixing chamber for the the cylinders of the engine as to produce the minimum amount of vacuum therein, thus maintaining the maximum volumetric efiiciency and insuring the maximum degree of compression.

The hydrocarbon supply enters through-a nozzle 9 projecting into and centrally of the mixing chamber 8 at the throat 10 which is shown as a restricted portion to compensate for the restrictions caused by the bailie plates or other similar devices hereinafter described.

Suitable means are provided for supplying heat to the air or to the mixture in its passage to the cylinder and in the construction illustrated this is effected through jacketing the mixing chamber or passage 8 by providing a surrounding space 11, formed in the walls of the casing, to which space a suitable heating medium such, for example, as hot water from the engine jacket is conducted by suitable means not necessary here to describe or illustrate in detail.

A float chamber 12 is mounted in a suitable position at one side of the casing 7, and a supply pipe 13 leading from a suitable source of liquid hydrocarbon supply enters the float chamber-at the bottom and has located therein a valve seat 14. A hollow metal float 15 is mounted in, and substantially fills, the chamber 12. A rod is mounted to slide vertically and centrally of the float and carries at its lower end a needle valve 17 co-operating with the valve seat 1 1. This rod, in a well known manner hereinafter described, is operated by the float to maintain the hydrocarbon in the float chamber, and consequently in the nozzle 9, at a fixed level.

In this form of construction the flow of the hydrocarbon out through the nozzle 9 is controlled by suitable means herein shown as including a second needle valve which may be located at any suitable point in the passage through which the hydrocarbon passes from the supply to the nozzle. The nearer this valve is located to the end of the nozzle the more responsive will be the action of the engine to its operation. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 this second needle valve is shown as located between the float chamber and the open end of the nozzle. It is also shown as extending above the hydrocarbon passage so that it passes out through the casing above the hydrocarbon level and thus requires no stuffing-box.

This second needle valve, in the specific construction thus illustrated as one embodiment of the invention, is shown as a yertical rod 18 having the tapered or needle point '19 at its lower end and co-operating with a valve seat 20 in the passageway between the float chamber 12 and the nozzle 9. This rod 18 at its lower end slides through the casing 7 and at its upper end through a bracket 21 projecting laterally from the casing. A helical spring 22 abutting the bracket 21 and a collar 23 secured to the rod 18 acts normally to depress the needle valve toward the valve seat 20. Any suitable means may be provided for elevating the needle valve to withdraw it from the valve seat. As one means for that purpose the rod 18 is shown as provided with a laterally projecting arm 24. An eccentric 25 is shown as journaled on the bracket 21 beneath the arm 24 and a crank arm 26 is connected with the eccentric and operated by a suitable connection 27, extending from the crank arm to some point convenient to the operator. This connection may be of any suitable construction, multi-part or otherwise, and is shown in Fig. 4 as extending to a hand lever 270 pivoted at 271'on the steering wheel post- 2.

Hence by the operation of the hand lever 270 and thus of the connection 27 in opposition to and in conjunction with the spring 22 the valve 19 may be moved manually toward and from its seat 20 thus to restrict to the required extent the flow of hydrocarbon through the nozzle 9.

' Suitable means are provided for enabling the mixture to be controlled quantitatively in startin the engine and in running at 'slow spee s and for that purpose there are herein shown means for restricting the passage of air into the mixing chamber preferably located at the admlssion end of the passage. In the form illustrated there is shown for this purpose a shutter 28 for the inlet of the mixing chamber-- pivoted or hinged at 29-and which when closed will i restrict the flow of air into the mixing chamber except when required as in starting the engine or running at slow speeds. A

suitable means for this purpose is herein illustrated as consisting of a pinion 31 mounted on the pivotal axis of the'shutter and rigidly connected therewith, a rack 32 engaging the pinion and extending through suitable connections 320 which may be of any suitable character, and not necessary here to disclose, to a point convenient to the operator. This rack and pinion are preferably utilized to eflectthe closing movement of the shutter while a spring 321 mounted on the pivotal axis 29 functions to swing the shutter to wide open position. The connection 320 is shown in Fig. 4 as extending up alongside the connection 27 to an arm 322 also pivotedat 271 to the steering wheelpost 2. A pin 323 is mounted in the dial 324 in such a position that as the shutter 28 is swung wideopen, as by the spring 321, the arm 322 will contact with the pin 323. The arm 322 is provided with a pin 325 projecting upwardly into the path of a notch 326 in the hand lever 270 so that, as the hand lever 270 is swung from a position such as shown in Fig. 4 to close the needle valve 19, it will, at a predetermined point in its movement, pick up the arm 322, and as the closing movement continues act to close the shutter 28. Conversely, when the hand lever 270 is moved from a closed or partially closed position in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow shown, the needle valve 19 and the shutter 28 will both swing open until the arm 322 contacts with the'pin 323 when further movement of the lever 270v willact only further to open the needle valve 19.

Means are also preferably provided for insuring the pulverization of the hydrocarbon and the intimate mixture of the hydrocarbon and air. For this purpose reticulated baflie plates 33 are shown inclined radially and projecting inwardly from the inner walls of the mixing chamber and arranged in the form of a helix so that as the mixtur is'drawn up through the passageway or mixing chamber it partially tends to take a spiral course and partially to pass vertically up through the baflle plates. There is thus secured a most intimate mixture between the hydrocarbon and air. The bafile plates below the nozzle 9 and the grating 34 shown near the bottom of th passageway serve to catch any overflow of hydrocarbon from the nozzle and to assist in its being caught and carried upwardly with the air. The gratingv 34 may also be of sufliciently fine mesh to impede or prevent dirt and dust from being drawn in.

These baflle plates serve a further function of conducting the heat, transmitted from the jacketing medium in space 11 to the walls from the said walls directly into the body of the mixture. Hence these plates are, preferably, .made from a material of high diathermancy. The automatic control of the flow of hydrocarbon to. correspond with the required speed of the engine and means for manually determining the said speed are illustrated in connection with a form of construction shown in Fig. 4 somewhat in detail and in general in Figure 1. In the form thus illustrated this feature of the invention is shown as embodying a speed governor driven from the engine and connected to and operating a needle valve in the hydrocarbon passage together with a manually operated means for effecting the tensionof the governor controlling spring.

The mixing chamber 35, herein shown, is formed, as before, in a casing 36 connected to the manifold. The hydrocarbon nozzle- 37 enters the mixing chamber at the throat 38. The bafile plates 39 and the grating 40 are provided as before and arranged and constructed for the same purpose.

The float chamber 41 is of a similar con-' struction to that already described and contains the hollow metal float 42 and the needle valve 43 operated from the float by means of weighted levers 44 fulcrumed at 45 and resting at one end on top of the float and engaging at the other end between collars 46 on the stem of the needle valve. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the second or controlling needle valve 47 is mounted in the hydrocarbon supply pipe 48 on the admission side of the float chamber thus making the effect of the regulation of the flow of hydrocarbon by the controlling needle valve less sensitive than in the case previously described where the needle valve is located be tween the float chamber and the nozzle. But

. as in the previous case the position of this needle valve in the hydrocarbon passage is to be determined according to the particular conditions and the desired results. When the needle valve-47 is located as shown in Fig. 3 it is. necessarily below the hydrocarbon level and a suitable stufiing-box 49 is provided.

A speed governor, herein shown as an ordinary type of ball governor, is mounted on a suitable portion 50 of the engine frame and comprises a supporting bracket 51. carrying a shaft 52 driven by a sprocket and chain connection 53 from a shaft driven in synchronism with the engine such. for example. as the cam shaft 54. The rotation of the governor shaft 52 causes the balls 55 to move in or out and thereby to shift the collar 56 on the shaft. The shifting movement of the collar 56 is transmitted through the lever 57 to a link 58 and therefrom throu h a bell crank lever 59 to the needle valve 47. But it is obvious that any suitable form of governor or any suitable form of connections may be en'iployed for shifting the position of the needle valve according to the speed of the engine.

The means provided for manually controlling the position of the governor, and, consequently, the speed of the engine may take any suitable form and are herein illustrated as acting through a torsion spring 60, which opposes the balls of the governor, and as including a lever 61 connected at one end to the spring and at the opposite end to the link 58. and a manually operated movable connection extending from the other end of the spring 66 to some point convenient, to the operator. This manual connection may be of any suitable multipart or other construction. A simple form of such connection is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 as a slide bar 62 sliding atone end through a boss 63 on the engine frame and at its opposite end connected to a bell crank lever 64 in turn connected by a link 65 to a second hell crank lever 66 in turnconnected to a link 67 extending up alongside the steering wheel post to an indicator lever 68 pivoted thereon. Thus by shifting the indicator lever 68 any definite required amount of tension may be placed upon the balls of the governor and the speed of the engine thereby determined.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, as in the previous construction described, a shutter 69 for the admission end of the air passage to the mixing chamber is employed and is pivotally mounted at 70. This shutter is shown as controlled automatically in con necting with a manual regulation of the speed of the engine. As a simple means of thus securing the operation of the shutter it is shown as provided with a depending arm 71 having astud 72 projecting into the path of a lug 73 on the slide bar 62. The slide bar 62 in its movement toward the right as shown in Fig. 3 acts to close the shutter while the spring 74 at the pivotal point acts to open the shutter.

As the slide bar 62 is manually moved by the operator t the left, as in starting the engine, the shutter 69 is gradually swung open by the spring 74 until it is wide open when the lug 73 moves away from the stud 72. Upon the manual operation of the slide bar 62 in the opposite direction, or to the right, when the lug 73 reaches and contacts with the stud 72 further movement causes the shutter gradually to close.

Means are provided automatically to vary the opening of the hydrocarbon passage during the opening movement of the shutter in starting the engine and running at low speeds. In the construction illustrated for that purpose in Fig. 3 the needle valve 47 is itself so constructed as to provide for such a variation. The needle valve proper 4:7 is shown as carried by a spindle 75 mounted in a sleeve 7 6. This spindle 75 is provided with a collar 77 adjustable thereon by means of the set screw 78 and a helical spring 79 is mounted on the spindle between the collar 77 and the bottom of the sleeve '76 so that the spring 79 normally acts to move the spindle downwardly until the head of the needle valve contacts with the top of the sleeve. The bell crank lever 59, already described and through which the needle valve is operated by the governor, is connected with the sleeve 7 6 and operates to move the sleeve 76 and spindle 75 as one part.

Suitable means. are provided by which the opening movement of the slide bar 62 may be utilized togive the opening move inent of the needle valve in starting the engine and running at low speed. For this purpose a construction such as shown i'" Fig. 3 may be employed. A bell crank lever 80 is pivoted at 81 and has one arm 82 projecting beneaththe spindle 7 5 and the other arm slotted at 83 and engaging a pin 84 on a sleeve 85, adjustable by means of the set screw 86 on the slide bar 62. It will thus be seen that, by properly proportioning these partsand properly adjusting the sleeve 85, the opening movement of the slide bar 62 will give any desired degree of opening movement to the needle valve 47 These parts should be so proportioned and so designed that in starting the engine, as the operator pulls on the slide bar 62, the shutter 69 will be opened and simultaneously the needlevalve 47 will be opened, and both to such an extent that a mixture of the desired quality and quantity is drawn in to secure the starting of the engine and the maintainlng of its operation at the slower speeds or until the speed is suflicient to overcome the com- In this form of construction no shutter is provided at the admission end of the mixing chamber but a throttle valve 91 of the usual type is pivotally journaled at 92 in the upper end of the mixing chamber and is shown as operated by a slide bar 93 connected to a crank arm 94 mounted on the journal 92.

In this form of-the invention the flow of hydrocarbon to the mixing chamber is preferably controlled by a single needlevalve, this being illustrated as the usual float controlled needle valve but an additional valve such as the valve 19 in Fig. 2 may be employed. By making use of the usual float valve, the invention may readily be adapted to existing engines, .but in case of new engines a separate or additional valve would be preferable;

When the control is quantitative the flow of hydrocarbon is controlled by the float valve in the usual manner and when the control is qualitative the flow of hydrocarbon is controlled by additional mechanism, one form of which is illustrated. But it is not necessary in this form of the invention that a single valve should be employed for both the qualitative andquantitative control although to do so in some respects sim plifies the construction.

The float chamber 95 is of a construction similar to that already described having the admission passage 96 connected by a pipe 97 to a suitable source of hydrocarbon supply and having the nozzle passage 98 extending into the throat of the mixing chamber. The needle valve 99 is shown as heretofore in the form of a rod having a tapered end cooperating with a valve seat 100 and vertically and slidingly mounted centrally of the float chamber. The float 101 through'the medium of the levers 102 operates the valve 99 in the manner already described. In this Construction a bracket 103 extends upwardly from the float chamber casing and has vertically and slidingly mounted therein a plunger 104 directly above the valve rod 99. This plunger is provided at its upper end with a collar 105 and a helical spring 106 mounted on the plunger 104 between the bracket 103, and the collar 105 tends normally to elevate the plunger. A lug 107 projects laterally from the plunger 104 and is engaged by an eccentric 108 pivoted on the bracket 103 so that rotation-of the eccentric 108 acting in opposition to the spring 106 secures the vertical movement of the plunger 104 and determines its vertical position. Rotation of the eccentric 108 is effected by any suitable means herein shown as a pinion 109 secured thereto concentrically of the axis thereof and engaged by a rack bar 110.

It will thus be seen that with the parts proportioned and arranged on the principles already previously described and with the throttle 91 wide open and the plunger 104 in engagement with the valve rod 99 the desired qualitative control of the mixture may be effected by movement of the rack bar 110; while with the plunger 104 withdrawn from contact with the valve rod 99 quantitative control may be effective by regulation of the throttle valve in the usual manner.

Other features of the invention reside in providing means for effecting either qualitative or quantitative controlas desired for' predetermined or desired periods; further in providing means for effecting either form of control either by the hand or foot of the operator; and further in providing means for changing from either form of control to the other at substantially any desired speed. Suitable means for efl'ecting these objects of the invention are disclosed as illustrative of the invention in Fig. 5.

The rack bar 110 is pivotally connected to a lever 111 fulcrumed on the engine frame at 112. This lever 111 is in turn pivoted at. its opposite end to a link 113. A spring 114 connected at one end to the link 113 and at the opposite end to the engine frame acts to eflect a movement of the rack bar 110 to the right to cause an opening movement of the needle valve. The closing movement is eflected either by the hand or by the foot of the operator. For the former purpose a hand lever 115 is pivotally mounted at 116 on the steering wheel post and connected by a link 117 extending alongside the steering wheel post to a bell crank lever 118 fulcrumed on the engine frame at 1-19 and extending to the right of a sleeve 120 adjustably secured to the link 113; while for the latter purpose a foot accelerator 121 of the usual type is pivoted at 122 and a bell crank lever 123 fulcrumed at 124 has one arm connected to the link 113 and the other arm providedwith a lug 125 extending beneath and in the path of the accelerator. Hence the operator, by moving the lever 115 by hand in the direction of the arrow shown on the dial 126, or by depressing the accelerator 121 by the foot, will give an opening movement to the needle valve in opposition to the spring 114 which normally acts to' close the needle valve.

The slide bar 93, by which the position of the throttle valve 91 is secured, is given a closing movement by a spring 127 secured at oneend to the slide bar and at the opposite end to theengine frame. This spring acts to move the slide bar 93 to the right as shown in Fig. 5. 1

The movement of the throttle valve is likewise secured either by the hand or foot of the operator. For the former purpose a second hand lever 128 is pivoted at 116 on the steering wheel post and connected by a link 129 to a bellcrank lever 130 fulcrumed on the engine frame at 131 and engaging with its other end at the left of a sleeve 132 adjustably secured to the slide bar 93, while for the latter purpose a foot accelerator, which may be the same accelerator 121 as already described, extends above a lug 133 projecting from the arm of a bell crank lever 134 fulcrumed at 135 and connected by a link 136'with a bell crank lever 137 fulcrumed at 138 to the engine frame and engaging with its opposite end behind a second sleeve 139 adjustably secured to the slide bar 93.

t will thus be seen that by moving the hand lever 128 in a direction indicated by the arrow shown on the indicator plate 126 or by depressing the foot accelerator 121 the slide bar 93 will be moved to the left in opposition to the spring 127 to open the throttle valve (the parts in the drawing being shown at the limit of this opening movement) while the spring 127 acts to move the parts in the opposite direction, that is, to effect the closing movement of the throttle valve.

It will also be seen that with such a construction as that illustrated, and as hereinafter more fully explained, if the hand levers 115 and 128 are brought into alinement each will indicate on the dial 126 the same speed, and at the same time the lugs 125 and 133 will occupy the same position with respect to the foot accelerator. Thereupon either set of mechanism may be utilized to continue the further control of -the engine and thus the control passed from quantitative to qualitative or vice versa at substantially any speed of the engine. Furthermore, the mechanism for securing this result is so arranged, as in the illustrated embodiment, that when one method of control is being exercised there is no interference by the mechanism for securing the other method of control. Thus no particular skill is required on the part of the operator in utilizing either method as desired.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 and thus described the float valve of the carbureter has been utilized as the valve for controlling the hydrocarbon supply but as already pointed out if the invention were to be applied to a newly constructed engine it would be preferable to use an additional needle valve, such as shown'at 19 in Fig. 2, for controlling the hydrocarbon supply. In that case it would only be necessary in order to secure the same operation of the needle valve, to connect the bar 110 to the crank arm .26, while the passageway to the engine would be provided with the throttle valve 91 and operating connections as shown in Fig. 5.

lVhatever may be the location and construction of the valve for regulating the flow of hydrocarbon to the mixing chamber, it

is essential that the control of the flow shall be close enough to give satisfactory regula tion of the power developed.

The means provided by this invention for eiiecting qualitative control may serve also as a means for varying or adjusting the proportions of the mixture when they are not correct for quantitative control which is bound to be true under the varying conditions.

The general principles of the invention and the method of operation will now be understood in view of the foregoing detailed description of various embodiments of the invent-ion.

If the method of qualitative control provided by this invention were employed in starting the engine diiiiculties would probably be encountered because of the very weak mixture which would be required at the initial speed or at very low speeds. If for any reason the mixture at starting were richer than required then the engine would race, while if the mixture were just of the quality required to overcome the slight resistance in starting then ignition would be difficult, and the explosion would be irregular. Hence, it is desirable, if not necessary, as disclosed in each of the forms illustrated, to provide a means for a quantitative con- .trol of the mixture in the starting of the engine or at the slower speeds.

A simple construct-ion is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 for efl'ectin the method of quantitative control for this purpose. The connection 32 may be operated directly and independently of the connection 27 or as illustrated the operation of the connection 32 may be automatically performed by the operation of the connection 27. It the operator is operating the connect-ions independently by hand, the shutter 28 which controls the supply of air to the mixing chamber will be opened by him to some point which will the speed the operator gradually further opens the shutter and gradually increases the amount of hydrocarbon supplied until a sufficient speed is attained to enable the engine to run smoothly under qualitative control. The operator then throws the shutter wide open and thereafter the operation of the engine is effected by the qualitative control obtained by the regulation of the needle valve 19.

Preferably, however, as disclosed in connection with this embodiment of the invention the mechanism may be arranged to fix the point at which the control shall pass from quantitative to qualitative. Thus with the shutter closed the hand lever 270 would be in the extreme position of movement in the direction indicated by the arrow on the dial 324 and would be holding, through the arm 322, the shutter closed. In starting the engine the operator would simply move the hand lever 270 in the direction opposite the arrow and thereupon the shutter would open and the required amount of hydrocarbon be supplied to the air admitted to the mixing.

chamber to secure the starting of the engine. A further gradual movement of the hand lever'would maintain the quantitative control until the arm 322 reached the stop 323 which would be set at such a position, according to the particular conditions that the engine would then be capable of being controlled qualitatively and running smoothly. At this point the shutter would be wide open and further movement of the' hand lever 270 would simply act to operate the needle valve 19 and effect the qualitative control of the engine.

A construction such as illustrated in Fig. a removes the necessity of any judgment on the part of the operator as to when to begin the qualitative control, the stop 323 being adjusted at the outset according tothe re ,quired conditions.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 3 as as a further embodiment of the invention operates in the same general way and makes V opposing the centrifugal action of the governor balls. 1

liminary movement of the slide bar 62 by the operator allows the shutter to swing open to a suflicient extent and the needle valve 17 to open to a suflicient extent to produce such a quantity of mixture of the required richness as is necessary to enable the starting of the engine. Further movement of the slide bar 62 acts to increase the quantity of mixture supplied until the engine is running smoothly at the proper speed. When this point is reached, which for a particular engine is determined by the adjustment of the parts, the projection 73 leaves the pin 71, the shutter being then wide open, and the engine passes under qualitative control. This control is effected automatically by the connection between the governor and the needle valve and this maintains the engine at a speed determined by the governor. The speed which is thus determined by the governor is regulated by the operator through the connection between the governor and the slide bar 62. Thus in this case when under qualitative control the engine is automatically maintained at a speed, which in turn is determined by the operator by the position at which he sets the slide bar 62.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 as a further embodiment of the invention means are provided by which the engine may be controlled either quantitatively or qualitatively throughout any required period of its operation. Hence the quantitative control may be used in starting the engine and in running at slow speeds and thereafter the engine may be controlled qualitatively as in the cases already described. But in this latter construction the quantitative control may be continued or resumed when and for such periods as desired by the operator. This construction also embodies principles of mechanism for operating the two controls which are peculiarly adapted to automobile engines and which are of sucha nature that when either method ofcontrol that the levers provided for operating the two controls will assume substantially the same position when the engine is running at the same speed so that a shift may then readily take place from the onemethod of control to the other. f

With this form of construction in starting the engine the operator will preferably make use of the quantitative control effected through the operation of the hand lever 128 first throwing the other hand lever 115, effecting the qualitative control to wide open position. Then through the operation of the hand lever 128 or the foot accelerator 121 theengine will be operated under quantitative jco-ntrol until the required speed is reached or the conditions become satisfactory to the operator when, by bringing the hand lever 115 back into line with the hand lever 128, he may throw the hand lever 128 into wide open position and continue to operate the engine under qualitative control by the use of the hand lever 115 or the foot accelerator 121. Thereafter, during the running of the engine either method of control may be utilized as desired and when one method is being used no interference will be had from the means provided for operating with the other method, either from the hand lever or the foot accelerator.

In this latter form of construction it is not necessary that the hand levers for regulating the two controls shall be in the same position to control the engine at a given speed. If they are not so arranged when the engine is being operated under a given control, as for example the quantitative, the.

operator will close the lever for the other control, as the qualitative, until the speed of the engine begins to change, which will indicate that it has passed under the latter method of control. Thereupon the other lever may be thrown to wide open position and the operation of the engine regulated by the control thus brought into use. The relation of the mechanism to the foot accelerator, as already described, is automatically determined as that, when one hand lever is in wide open position, the corresponding mechanism is rendered ineffective to the action of the foot accelerator.

In an engine embodying the principle of qualitative control of this invention the air and hydrocarbon passages should be of such a size that when the engine is running at its maximum speed a perfect mixture of hydrocarbon and air or that mixture which is theoretically necessary for perfect combustion, usually about 6% parts of hydrocarbon to 100 parts of air by weight, may be secured with a minimum amount of vacuum in the cylinder.

The efficiency of the qualitative control embodied in this invention will now be un-' derstood. Let there be assumed a uniform slight resistance to the movement of the piston at all speeds. If, now, the hydrocarbon valve be partially opened as for example half way and the enginebe started and allowed to regulate its own speed an acceleration in speed will take place. More air will be drawninto the cylinder the air passage being unrestricted and more hydrocarbon will be mixed with the air up to the limit permittedby the opening of the hydrocarbon valve. When this limit is reached the mixture will become leaner, that is, will contain a larger proportion of air because the mixture will be still powerful enough to increase the speed. The further increase in speed will rapidly change the quality of the mixture until it becomes so lean that its explosive force is only sufiicient to overcome the resistanceto the movement of the piston.

Thus the speed of the piston combined with a free air passage and a restricted hydrocarbon supply automatically produces the most efficient mixture in volume and proportions of air and hydrocarbon under a fixed amount of compression.

If now the resistance be increased the mixture will not be rich enough to produce sufiicient power to overcome it but the momentum of the engine will carry it along at a gradually reduced speed. As the hydrocarbon opening is unchanged, while the total volume of mixture now being drawn into the cylinder at the lowering speed becomesless, it follows that the mixture becomes steadily richer with a reduction in speed. Unless the increased resistance is great enough to stall the engine it'will soon settle down at some new speed. But with this new speed the mixture is richer and therefore will do approximately the same amount of actual work as before or in other words overcome more resistance at the slower speed.

The efficiency obtained by this method of qualitative control is as stated, approximate because the theoretical maximum efliciency depends also upon the size of the cylinder and will always be obtained with a mixture of theoretically perfect proportions of hydrocarbon and air. Hence the efficiency of a given engine obtained by the method of qualitative control by varying the quality of the mixture may be somewhat less than would be theoretically obtainable in an engine constructed to use, under the particular conditions, a perfect mixture.

The quality of the mixture may be rue duced with gradually increasing loss in efli 'ciency but the loss does not become so serione as when the proportion. of hydrocarbon is increased. Hence the size of the engine should be so proportioned to the maximum resistance offered to the movement of the piston that it will require the perfect mixture of hydrocarbon and air to overcome the resistance. It will then be impossible with this method of qualitative control to run into the very wasteful stages of excess hydrocarbon.

After a mixture contains about 7% of hydrocarbon further increase in the proportion of h drocarbon will not develop more power. ence if a mixture containing 7% of hydrocarbon will not overcome the resistance offered the engine must stop at that point.

In order, therefore, to operate successfully the cylinder should be of such cubic volume that some quality of mixture less powerful than the perfect mixture should overcome the normal resistance.- If more power is needed at any time the admission of more hydrocarbon to the mixing chamber will develop it by enriching the mixture.

With quantitative control reserve power is also secured by using a larger cyhnder than needed and only admitting part of a charge at normal loads.

Thus as a perfect mixture and a full compression are needed to secure theoretical maximum efficiency the latter will not be secured with'either method unless with maximum resistance.

The method of qualitative control of this invention will always secure full compression while the quality of the mixture always of maximum efiiciency for the given engine is varied automatically to correspond with the particular existing conditions by the engine itself. On the other hand, if in connection with quantitative control the condi-l tions are theoretically perfect at all speeds and barometric heights so that the engine will always have a perfect mixture of hydrocarbon and air, the compression will nevertheless vary. At maximum resistance both methods of control would have the same efliciency and develop the same power. For this reason the same en ine may be used with a double method 0% control and will have reserve power in either case as well as the same maximum degree of power.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, means for controlling the work performed by regulating the quantity of mixture admitted to the cylinder, means for .controlling the amount of work performed by regulating the quality of mixture admitted to the cylinder, and means for rendering either of said controlling means effective as desired, and means positioned for operation by the foot of the operator for effecting the regulation of whichever controlling means is in action.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a piston means for cornpressing in the cylinder a mixture of hydrocarbon and air on the return stroke of the piston and for then igniting the compressed mixture; means for regulating the power developed by controlling the quality, and. means for regulating the power developed by controllin the quantity, of the mixture admitted to the cylinder and means for rendering either of said regulating means effective.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a piston means for compressing in the cylinder a mixture of hydrocarbon and air on the return stroke of the mixture admitted to the cylinder and means for rendering either of said regulating means effective over any predetermined range of power.

4. The method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with a piston reciprocable therein, an air inlet and a hydrocarbon inlet which consists in varying the hydrocarbon inlet to vary the quality of the mixture as required for work performance and in permitting the restriction of the air inlet to maintain a sufiicient vacuum on the hydrocarbon inlet to secure the required quality at the lesser amounts of work performance until the quality of the mixture needed to perform the work with the air inlet unrestricted is sufliciently rich to prevent back-firing.

5. The method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with a piston reciprocable therein, an air inlet and a hydrocarbon inlet which consists in varying the hydrocarbon inlet to effect a qualitative control and in permitting the restriction of the air inlet until the air furnished through the unrestricted air inlet provides a mixture sufiiciently rich in quality and necessary for the required work performance without back-firing.

6. The method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with a piston reciprocable therein, an air inlet, and a hydrocarbon inlet which consists in maintaining the proportions of the mixture supplied by said inlets constant for all speeds with a given load. in maintaining the density of the said mixture constant for the lower amounts of work performed and constant but greater for the higher amounts of work performed and in varying the proportions of the said mixture of the given density with each variation in load.

7. The method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with a piston reciprocable therein. an air inlet and a hydrocarbon inlet which consists in automatically correlating the quality of the mixture at any density supplied by said inlets with the speed of the piston and the resistance to its movement to insure that the least amount of hydrocarbon is used at said density that will overcome said resistance without back-firing. I

8. The method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with a piston reciprocable therein, an air inlet and a hydrocarbon inlet which consists movement to insure that the least amount of hydrocarbon is used at saiddensity that will overcome said resistance without back-firing.

9. The method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder with a piston reoiprocable therein, a hydrocarbon inlet, and an air inlet, which consists in controlling the hydrocarbon inlet either manually or by a speed governor, and in restricting the air inlet at the lower speeds sufiiciently to secure an attenuated quality of the mixture untila mixture of a quality sufiicient to overcome the load with the air inlet unrestricted is furnished, whereby the engine will operate at any speed and with any load.

10. The method of obtaining work from an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, an air inlet and a hydrocarboninlet which consists in supplying hydrocarbon to the hydrocarbon inlet, in subjecting the admission side of the hydrocarbon inlet at all loads to substantially the same amount of vacuum as exists in the cylinder, in controlling qualitatively the amount of power developed by varying the amount of the hydrocarbon inlet, in supplying a mixture which under normal conditions contains an Y excess of air but secures an explosion with ing an attenuated mixtureof quick-burning proportions until the amount of power developed would require with the air inlet unrestricted a mixture rich enough when of the increased density to overcome the piston resistance without back-firing.

12.: The method of obtaining work from an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 11 in whichthe controlling of the power developed qualitatively is efiected by varying the area of the gasolene opening.

'13. The method of obtaining work from an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 11 in which the controlling of the power developed qualitatively is effected by supplying a mixture containing under normal conditions an excess of air and exploding without back-firing at any load.

14. The method of obtaining work from an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, an air inlet and a hydrocarbon inlet which consists .in controlling the power developed by quantitative control of an arbitrary mixture until the amount of power developed is such that a mixture of full density must in order to overcome the piston resistance be rich enough in hydrocarbon to burn without causing back-firing and in then controlling the power developed qualitatively for all greater amounts 0 power.

15. In an internal combustion engine, comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, means for supplying a mixture of air and hydro-carbon to the cylinder and means for regulating the proportions of the mixture thus supplied to secure a mixture of explosive proportions and for regulating the quantity of the mixture to secure a density suitable to develop the desired quantity of power within the capacity lim-' JOSEPH G. PROSSER. 

